Why Does a Dog Eat Snow?

Seems like a silly question, but we've been asked before: Why does a dog eat snow? Well, it turns out there may be perfectly good reasons.

Most people prefer a nice, hot cup of hot cocoa in the winter as opposed to a flavorful snow cone or Slurpee. We usually prefer a warm treat when the weather is cold, but there are some dogs that absolutely go crazy when it snows and love to eat as much of the white, fluffy stuff as they can. Some pet owners simply believe that snow is a tasty treat for their pets, but they don’t realize that there may be important reasons behind their dogs’ fascination with snow.

Down With Dehydration

All too many pet owners believe that leaving a bowl of water out for their dogs for several days until they finish it is fine. This is unacceptable. I challenge each and every one of them to leave a glass of water out on the counter for a couple of days and then drink it. They surely wouldn’t enjoy a glass of tepid and stagnant H2O, yet they expect their dogs to drink it.

Dogs that do not have access to fresh and clean water may consume large amounts of snow. Canines dehydrate very quickly and will do nearly anything to replenish the fluids that they need.

Freshly fallen snow doesn’t have as much water in it as you might think. It only contains about 5 percent water. A dog that depends on snow for its fluid intake would have to spend much of the day eating snow to get enough fluids for its survival. No joke: Always have fresh and clean water so that your pet can stay happy and healthy.

Taste the Freeze

There are some feisty four-legged friends that simply enjoy eatingsnow. Everybody has their snacking preferences, and some pooches just love noshing on freshly fallen snow.

There isn’t anything wrong with that unless they consume a lot of it. Too much of the frosty precipitation can cause an intestinal upset, which could have you steam-cleaning the carpets. Be wise and watch your pup in the winter. You will be less busy, and your carpets will be in better shape, because of your attentiveness.

Medical Madness

There are plenty of medical problems that a dog could have that causes him to chew on snow. Your beloved pup should be taken to the veterinarian if he appears to be eating a lot of snow. The vet will check your baby to see if he is showing any signs of kidney disease, Cushing’s disease or even issues with his thyroid.

Walk On the Wild Side

Canines in the wild had to rely on nature to sustain them. They hunted rabbits and squirrels for their dinners and drank from cool, fresh springs and rivers most of the year. In the winter, they were still able to hunt for their food, but most of their water sources would have become frozen. They needed to find a way to get the fluids required for survival. In wintertime, those fluids usually came from consuming large quantities of snow. This was what every canine’s ancestors had to do to preserve themselves. We all do whatever we have to do to survive another day. So did they.

In today’s society, we have running water and should be able to provide our dogs with clean and fresh water throughout the day. The average pooch shouldn’t have to fend for himself and have to locate his own water source. This should be taken care of by you to ensure your faithful companion is always hydrated and healthy.

What are you waiting for? Now is a good time to check that your dog has a fresh bowl of cold H2O.

Photo: AJU_photography/Flickr

* * *

Get Free Recall Alerts! Sign up now to Petful’s twice-monthly email newsletter, and you’ll also get our FREE pet food recall alerts. You’ll be among the very first to know about recalls. Click here to sign up now (it’s free).